Water-purifier.



UNITED, sTATns PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. HINKSON, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR HINKSON ELECTRIC LIQUID PURIFYING COMPANY, OF IITTSBURG,

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

WATER-PURIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 1e, 190e.l

, T all whom it may concern.-

. comparatively trode,

Be it known that I, FRANK B. HINKsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Castle, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Water-Purifiers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in electric water-purifiers, and particularly to an electrolytic device designed for use in connection therewith.

-The main object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe character described that will be effective for the destruction of bacteria and all lower forms of animal and vcgetable life contained in the fluid treated without rendering the fiuid unpalat-able and unwholesome. I

To this end the invention contemplates a more effective use of the ases resulting from a decomposition of the `uid by causing increased circulation and agitation of the fluid and the confinement of the gases, whereby less decomposition is required and in consequence a less quantity of electric current is necessary.

The invention therefore consists, broadly, in a series of closed compartments arranged to successively receive the entire inflow-current of the fiuid and each including an elecsaid electrodes being normally insulated from each other and in electrical conlnection only by and through the electrical conductivity of the fiuid, all the electrodes throughout the compartments being energized in series.

Another object-of the invention is the provision of means whereby two or more of such devices may be connected in parallel to secure the maximum effect from the current used.

whole.

.relative position.

use in connection with water-purifiers, 1 represents a cylindrical casing of suitable dimensions, having a top 2, provided with a waterinlet 3, and a bottom 4, provided with a water-outlet 5, all of which parts may be of any usual construction. The wall of the casing 1 v is preferably lined by a suitable strip of insulating material, of wood or any other desired element.

The electrolytic device roper comprises a series of plates 7, prefera ly of a size to fit snugly within the casing 1, bearing at their peripheries or edges against the insulatingstrip. The plates are identical in construction and by preference are constructed mainly of aluminium combined in suitable quantity with nickel or nickel alloy, though it is to be understood that the use of any material for the plates is contemplated.

Each of the plates is formed with four openings 8, arranged in diametrically opposite pairs and equally s aced from the periphery of the disk, the pate being also provided near its periphery with an elongated opening 9, which may be of any length desired and is preferably located beyond the plane of that portion of the disk bound by the openin s 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The walls o the openings 8 are arranged to receive plugs 10, having a head portion 11 and a barrel 12, the plugs being designed to fit snugly into the openings 8, the barrels 12 being shaped for the purpose the thickness of the plates, so that when said plug is properly seated the head 11 thereof contacts with and projects above the upper surface of the plate. The plugs 10'are eentrally cored for the reception of binding-rods 13, passed longitudinally throughout the series of plates and throu h the alined plugs, thereby securin the plates together Aas a The en of the rod projects below the lowermost plate and seats in an insulating-sleevev 14, designed to bear at its lower end on the bottom orlower wall of the casing and being of a length equal to and support the series of plates in proper With each serles of plates two rods 13 are. preferably used, being arranged to coperate with diametrically opposite holes 8 in each of the plates, the remaining holes therein being reserved for the electrical connections hereinafter referred to.

IOO

In connecting the plates to provide the desired series by the use of rods 13 the plates are so arranged that their o eningstf' are positioned in staggered order Ifoiigitidinally of the casing-that is, the opening in one platelwill be located in thecasing-diametrically opposite the opening in the plate above and below it. As these openings 9 afford the only passage for the water longitudinally of the casing, itfollows from this arran ement that the current is compelled to trave a tortuous course to reach the outlet-that is, thro hone f the openings 9 and I.on to the plate elow, then transversely of the casing to the Iopening in said plate, and so on throughout the series of plates, thereby providing for an, increased electrolytic effect on the water, which is successively made the only connector for the current to pass from plate to plate. The relative position of the openings the plates with respect to each other and to the c lindrical wall 'of the casing causes a swir lng action u on the water, thereby increasing 1ts circu ation over the plates.

When the lates are assembled and connected throug the medium of rods 13, each plate will be supported by the head 11 of the pl 10, secure 1n the plate below it, so that sai heads afford a means for maintaining the plates separatedfrom each other to the desired degree..

The positive or negative conductor 15 from any suitable source of supply is lead through an insulated plug 16, secured inthe tcp of .the casing and directly connected'to a binding-post 17, secured centrally of the uprmost plate of the-series, while the remain- 'mg conductor 18 also passes through a plug 19, formed in the top of the casing and extends downward through the alined plugs 1() of the series of plates, utilizin of course one ofthe series of plugs not usedy ycthe rods 13.

land B, each constructed exactly similar to the one previously described, are connected through the medium of elongated rods 21, which pass through the alined plugs of the plates of each series, being of a length suflicient to secure both series together. A spacing-sleeve 22, of insulating material, encircles the rods 21 between the .lower plate of the upper series and the upper plate of the lowerA series, thereby holding the series in proper relative ositions. To electrically connect the next owr series with the main conductors, I secure a branch 23 to the conductor 15 It is frequently branch 25, leading therefrom below the lower plate ofl the` upper series and extending through one of the unoccupied series of alined plugs in the lower electrolytic device, being terminally connected to a binding-post 26, secured to the lowermost plate of the second series. By continuing this arrangementn of parts any number of series desired may be electrically connected.

It will be noted that the heads of the plugs afford the sole medium of separation of the plates and that said heads are to be of a size to ro erly space the plates in accordance wit t e nature and strength of the current used, as the use of an alternate current reuires a greater distance between the plates t an does the direct current for eHective operation ofthe platesY In use the water is compelled `to travel a tortuous passage throughout the length of the electrolytic chamber, being in contact with the successive lates practically throughout their area andp at all times subjected to the action of the electric current which permost plate through the water and bipolar electrodes, thereby providingl for the electrolytic decomposition of the water to the extent of removing the impurities therefrom.

It is obvious that the current is automatically cut off except when water is assing through the casing, therefore providping for the most economic use 'of the current, as no circuit is completed except during the assage of the water.

In this connection it 1s tov IOC be observed that the plates 7 in the arrangement describedprovide with the casing 1 a series of vertically-arranged closed chambers and that in the use of the device saidplates form bipolar electrodes.

It is to be noted that the salient feature of the present invention is the economic and effective utilization of the gases decomposed by electrolytic action, all detailed features of construction tendingto this end. In the first place I gain a plurality of successive treatments of the water by virtue of passing the same in succession over a series of electrodes. Furthermore, I utilize the generated gases to their full capacity for the destruction of the bacteria and resaturate the fluid by the excess of such gases, all of which is mainly de endent u on the closed chambers, in which t e electro ytic action occurs, as the gases are thereby eHectively confined and compelled to the maximum effective action. Agam, the successive reversals of the current in its passage through the successive chambody of iiuid with the result to materially inis necessary, The comparatively vslight decrease the agitation with the results above noted. Y The electrodes are normally insulated froml each other and are only electric.

ally connected by the body of fluid assing therebetween, and when so electrical y connected said electrodes are energized in series.-

By virtue of the closed compartments the electrodes are in electrical connection solel by the luid, and the arrangement by which the entire body of water is brought into successive contact with the electrodes enables me to provide a filter which is capable of the maxil mum germicidal effect from the minimum generation of the gases,'so that the utilization of the relatively small current strength composition and the resaturation of the water with the liberated gases after their utilization as germicides enablesl me to produce a wholesome palatable fluid, requiring neither aeration or otherof the usual treatments.

Havin thus described my invention, what is elaime as new isi An electrolytic device for purifiers com'- prising a plurality of closed compartments arranged in a vertical series and adapted to successively receive the inflow-current of the iuid to be purified, said compartments being separated by bipolar electrodes, and terminal electrodes adapted for connection to a source of current.

In testimony whereof I aIiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. HINKSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. FLETCHER, A. M. LANGLEY. 

